(W) Jeff Lemire (A/CA) Doug Mahnke In Shops: Feb 14, 2023 SRP: $6.99
Alec Holland has been summoned back to the land of the living by the decrepit John Constantine himself, which is quite the surprise to the Parliament of Trees. In exchange for a peaceful eternity within the Green, Alec was to stay out of their affairs. With lives at risk, Alec refuses, but his conviction comes at a cost: if Alec dies in this stolen body, defending the last vestiges of humanity…he’s gone for good!
Swamp Thing is a character that I tend to go back and forth on as far as my enjoyment. It seems to be very specific to the writer and maybe even the arc. It’s not a character I go out of my way to read. But, a series by Jeff Lemire and Doug Mahnke gets me to take notice and I’m glad I did as Swamp Thing: Green Hell #1 kicks off a story that’s rather intriguing and something I’ve wondered about.
Lemire takes us to the feature where the environment has further decade leaving rising water levels and diminishing food supplies. It’s a world that’s we’ve sort of seen before where humanity has destroyed the environment and is paying the price. Society has diminished and the remnants of it holds on living day to day and unsure what the future brings. We get the stereotypical stable town attempting to create society and the gang who forces them to give up part of their hard work under threat of violence. None of that’s new and it’s also not the point.
With the world of of whack, what are the Parliaments of the Green, Red, and Rot to do? The answer? Wipe out what’s left and start all over. There’s a lot to take in about that. First, who can blame the trio? Humanity has destroyed and thrown away beauty and clearly has learned little from it all. Honestly, I was cheering from the Green, Red, and Rot to succeed.
Lemire delivers that turn of events with an eye toward horror as the Green attacks becoming the environmental avenger that Swamp Thing feels so perfect for. The fact the series hasn’t been a regular discussion about environmental justice has always confused me and a story that has been done but not nearly enough.
The art by Doug Mahnke is great giving us a world that feels lived in and worn down. With color by David Baron and lettering by Steve Wands it all feels like a functional world where “junk” is re-used to build houses and machinery for society to use. The people look a little too healthy is my only complaint, especially if there’s food scarcity as is hinted at in the comic. The scenes where Swamp Thing attacks are fantastic horror and the detail of the attack is great and creative. There’s panels that truly creeped me out forcing me to quickly flick through and read the dialogue as fast as possible.
Swamp Thing: Green Hell #1 has a lot of potential in a series. It has an interesting premise and where it ends is somewhat predictable but sets up a fascinating conflict. We don’t see enough stories about the environment finally saying enough is enough and taking on the humanity that has ravaged it. We can see that reality and result in the disease that has plagued the world for two years now. Maybe comics will finally take on that weighty subject and this is a tease for greater questions to come. Either way, this is a debut that delivers a nice dose of horror from some unexpected places.
Story: Jeff Lemire Art: Doug Mahnke Color: David Baron Letterer: Steve Wands Story: 8.25 Art: 8.25 Overall: 8.25 Recommendation: Buy
DC Comics provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review
The Earth is all but done. The last remnants of humanity cling to a mountaintop island lost in endless floodwater. The Parliaments of the Green, the Red, and the Rot all agree: it’s time to wipe the slate clean and start the cycle of life over again. And to do so, they’ve united their powers to summon an avatar—one of the most horrific monsters to ever stalk the surface of this forsaken planet. Against a creature like that, there can be no fighting back…unless you have a soldier who understands the enemy. Someone who has used its tactics before. Someone like Alec Holland.
Of course, it would help if Alec Holland hadn’t been dead for decades…
Jeff Lemire—the author of the smash hits Joker: Killer Smile and The Question: The Deaths of Vic Sage, along with the graphic novel that inspired the television sensation Sweet Tooth—returns to Black Label with one of the greatest artists in modern DC history, Doug Mahnke, in tow! Together they’ll unleash a gory, gruesome monster mash, where the fate of humanity rests in the hands of someone who isn’t human at all!
The Earth is all but done. The last remnants of humanity cling to a mountaintop island lost in endless floodwater. The Parliaments of the Green, the Red, and the Rot all agree: it’s time to wipe the slate clean and start the cycle of life over again. And to do so, they’ve united their powers to summon an avatar—one of the most horrific monsters to ever stalk the surface of this forsaken planet. Against a creature like that, there can be no fighting back…unless you have a soldier who understands the enemy. Someone who has used its tactics before. Someone like Alec Holland.
Of course, it would help if Alec Holland hadn’t been dead for decades…
Jeff Lemire—the author of the smash hits Joker: Killer Smile and The Question: The Deaths of Vic Sage, along with the graphic novel that inspired the television sensation Sweet Tooth—returns to Black Label with one of the greatest artists in modern DC history, Doug Mahnke, in tow! Together they’ll unleash a gory, gruesome monster mash, where the fate of humanity rests in the hands of someone who isn’t human at all!
The classic comic book tales set in the iconic—and terrifying—world of the Alien franchise are being collected in brand-new hardcover collection starting in April with Aliens Omnibus Vol. 1. And in August, fans of the iconic franchise can enjoy even more of these thrilling comic book stories with Aliens: The Original Years Omnibus Vol. 2.
A rogue scientist’s genetic experiments create a horrific new alien king! A ragtag unit of Colonial Marines battles a xenomorph infestation on a space station — and the survivors face a pack of bizarre hybrids! An investigator must solve a murder on a deep-space alien-research station! But what dread music will a deranged composer make with an alien’s screams? And can a synthetic xenomorph rebel against its sadistic creator? Plus: Flash back to an alien attack in the 1950s! And witness the fate of England as aliens overrun the Earth! This rare collection includes: Aliens: Rogue #1-4, Aliens: Colonial Marines #1-10, Aliens: Labyrinth #1-4, Aliens: Salvation, Aliens: Music of the Spears #1-4, and Aliens: Stronghold #1-4 — plus material from Dark Horse Comics #3-5, #11-13 and #15-19; PREVIEWS(1993) #1-12; PREVIEWS(1994) #1; and Aliens Magazine (1992) #9-20.
Writers include Ian Edginton, Chris Warner, Kelly Puckett, Paul Guinan, Dan Jolley, Jim Woodring, Dave Gibbons, Chet Williamson, John Arcudi, Sarah Byam, John Byrne, Peter Milligan, Michael Cook, and more. Artists include Will Simpson, Paul Guinan, Tony Atkins, Allen Nunis, John Nadeau, Kilian Plunkett, Mike Mignola, Tim Hamilton, Doug Mahnke, David Roach, Mark A. Nelson, Paul Mendoza, John Byrne, Paul Johnson, and Christian Gorny.
Check out the all-new cover by Mahmud Asrar as well as the exclusive direct market variant cover by Paul Mendoza and be sure to pick up this must-have collection when Aliens: The Original Years Omnibus Vol. 2 hits shops in August 2021!
I remember “guidebooks” from back in the day. They’d be a lot of text that were more like roleplaying game supplements than comic books. And that’s what I expected with Dark Nights: Death Metal Guidebook #1. I was also really wrong about that as well. The Dark Nights: Death Metal tie-in is full of standalone stories and tales that shed more light on what has happened. It’s also a perfect guide for those that skipped “Year of the Villain” and want to catch up.
Dark Nights: Death Metal Guidebook #1 featured five stories from various creative teams and in between it has one-page guides/sketches that I was expected more of. As with all anthologies, the quality varies in story and art but this is the rare case where everything is at least good if not great. The story subjects, tones, and focus are all different delivering insight into the event.
The main chunk of the comic is made up of the “Fall of Earth”. The story goes into detail exactly what happened. While it skips some of the lead up it’s the perfect read for those who want to know what they missed. In goes into so much detail it spoils the first three issues of Dark Nights: Death Metal as well. It’s the Cliff’s Notes version of the event and when I got to the end, I felt like I had a good grasp as to what was going on and the why. None of it was Earth-shattering (pun intended) but I feel like I have a bit more of a grasp as to what’s going on now.
The other four stories focus on various heroes and villains and where they stand.
Harley Quinn gets a spotlight as she explores the irradiated wastelands and it answers some questions as to what has happened to some villains while raising questions as well. Aquaman is the most intriguing of the stories as it shows a former King subjugated and folded to protect his people. We learn more about Wonder Woman and her jail of villains. The story is the highlight of the comic delivering an emotional punch. Wrapping it up is a story featuring Batman, Jonah Hex, and the Joker Dragon. While the overall story is the weakest of the bunch it also has some key details that will impact the main story. There’s a reason Hex was chosen by Batman and something he must do if things go sideways.
The art is pretty solid all around. The styles vary a bit but none of it varies too much from each other. It’s unique but cohesive at the same time. All of it is good across the board and each has its moments that’ll leave you lingering. With a limited amount of pages to work with, the art is key to tell the story and bring emotion.
Dark Nights: Death Metal Guidebook #1 is a one-shot tie-in that really works. While it feels like it should have come out earlier in the event, it does a great job of acting as a starting point for those who missed the first three issues. It answers a lot of questions and also drops some key hints for the main story as well. It’s a spin-off that feels as vital as any main event issue.
Story: Scott Snyder, James Tynion IV, Joshua Williamson, Chip Zdarsky, Becky Cloonan, Vita Ayala, Christopher Priest Art: Doug Mahnke, Khary Randolph, Becky Cloonan, Dan Panosian, Eduardo Risso Ink: Jamie Mendoza Color: David Baron, Emilio Lopez, Tamra Bonvillain, Luis Guerrero, Eduardo Risso Lettering: Tom Napolitano, Dave Sharpe, Steve Wands, Ferran Delgado, Willie Schubert Story: 8.15 Art: 8.15 Overall: 8.15 Recommendation: Buy
DC Comics provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review
Dark Nights: Death Metal #3 has hit shelves, taking the Justice League to the sun to rescue Jarro (and Superman!) and introducing a Darkseid-infused Batman called Darkfather! This in-demand third issue sold out ahead of release, but copies are available at your local comic book store and more supply will be delivered August 25!
In November, Dark Nights: Death Metal #5 will reveal the Darkest Knight’s true goal of remaking the Multiverse in his image—can Earth’s heroes rally together to make a last stand? And in two tie-in one-shot issues, the blood and guts and gratuitous violence of Lobo takes main stage while a world of evil Super Pets, and more, shows a glimpse into the nightmare realities that the Batman Who Laughs has created!
Take a look below at November’s lineup for Dark Nights: Death Metal!
Dark Nights: Death Metal Infinite Hours Exxxtreme! #1
It’s storytime with Lobo. And it’s not going to be pretty!
Pull up a chair, ya bastiches—it’s time for Uncle Lobo’s Infinite Hour! It’s your chance to let the Main Man Lobo-tomize you with familiar yet freaky stories of the DC Universe, exactly as he remembers them: with blood and guts and exxxtreme gratuitous violence! Tell yer comics guy to put you down for alllll the copies!
Dark Nights: Death Metal Infinite Hours Exxxtreme! #1, written by Frank Tieri, Becky Cloonan, and others, art by Dale Eaglesham and others, cover by Kyle Hotz, 1:25 card stock variant cover by Rafael Grampá, on sale November 10.
Dark Nights: Death Metal #5
The Darkest Knight has won—and the multiverse will pay the price!
The Darkest Knight has won. With absolute power at the villain’s fingertips, Wonder Woman and the rest of the DC heroes are nothing to him. As the Darkest Knight turns his sights to his true goal, remaking the Multiverse in his image, can Earth’s heroes rally together to make a last stand?
Dark Nights: Death Metal #5, written by Scott Snyder, art and cover by Greg Capullo and Jonathan Glapion, Swamp Thing variant cover by David Finch, Perpetua variant cover by Stanley “Artgerm” Lau, B. Rex variant cover by Lucio Parrillo, 1:25 variant cover by Doug Mahnke, 1:100 black and white variant cover by Greg Capullo and Jonathan Glapion, on sale November 17.
Dark Nights: Death Metal The Multiverse Who Laughs #1
With the multiverse is destroyed, the worlds of the DC universe are nightmares!
The DC Multiverse is a collection of alternate-reality worlds where anything is possible. Each world tells the tale of a possible split in reality, or shows how lives vary depending on a single, solitary decision. But now that the Multiverse has been destroyed, the Batman Who Laughs has used his god like power to create a new Dark Multiverse…a collection of 52 evil worlds, each more terrifying than the last. This one-shot offers the curious—and the brave—a glimpse into the nightmare realities that the Batman Who Laughs has created in tales by creators who know what it means to have a truly twisted sense of misfit humor. An Arkham Asylum even more terrifying than what we know? A world of evil Super Pets? All that and more in these new tales of the Multiverse Who Laughs!
Dark Nights: Death Metal The Multiverse Who Laughs #1, written by Amanda Conner, Patton Oswalt, Jimmy Palmiotti, Scott Snyder, Brandon Thomas, James Tynion IV, and Joshua Williamson, art by Chad Hardin and others, cover by Chris Burnham, 1:25 card stock variant cover by Simone Bianchi, on sale November 24.
Written by: Scott Snyder, Vita Ayala, Becky Cloonan, Chip Zdarsky, Joshua Williamson Art by: Doug Mahnke, Eduardo Risso, Dan Panosian, Khary Randolph, Becky Cloonan
Earth is turned upside down, shrouded in a realm of darkness after the Justice League’s defeat by the cosmic goddess Perpetua. Now the Batman Who Laughs and his army of Dark Knights rule the planet, wreaking havoc on humanity and raining destruction on the world. As Wonder Woman, Superman, Batman, and other heroes fight to survive in this strange new landscape, one cloaked figure has been observing from the sidelines, creating a guidebook to this new world and its evil leaders in the hope of forming a plan of justice… and penance. This issue showcases the new factions of Earth and explores the mystery of what happened to our heroes after their battle with Perpetua. How did Wonder Woman become the queen of Hell? How did Batman find the Black Lantern ring? And what happens when Harley Quinn takes charge of the Wasteland, and finds love in the process? All this and more in this jam-issue exploring the new world order.
Green Lantern 80th Anniversary 100-Page Super Spectacular #1
(W) Geoff Johns, Mariko Tamaki, Peter J. Tomasi, Jeff Lemire, Robert Venditti, Dennis O’Neil, Sina Grace, Charlotte Fullerton, Ron Marz, James Tynion IV, Others (A) Ivan Reis, Fernando Pasarin, Darryl Banks, Mike Grell, Rafa Sandoval, Others (CA) Liam Sharp In Shops: Jun 24, 2020 SRP: $9.99
In brightest day, in blackest night, no evil could ever escape their sight! The Green Lanterns are celebrating 80 years of keeping the DC Universe safe. Join us to see tales of all of the universe’s most legendary Green Lanterns: Alan Scott, Hal Jordan, John Stewart, Guy Gardner, Kyle Rayner, Jessica Cruz, Simon Baz, and appearances from other cosmic favorites! A legendary lineup of creators including Geoff Johns, Peter J. Tomasi, Jeff Lemire, Ivan Reis, and others will be keeping the galaxy glowing bright! PRESTIGE FORMAT.
written by Scott Snyder art by Greg Capullo, Jonathan Glapion and FCO Plascencia card stock foil cover by Greg Capullo, Jonathan Glapion and FCO Plascencia Aquaman variant cover by David Finch Lobo variant cover by Jerome Opeña Harley Quinn variant cover by Stanley “Artgerm” Lau 1:25 variant cover by Doug Mahnke 1:100 black and white variant cover by Greg Capullo and Jonathan Glapion ON SALE 07.14.20
Get ready to scream…with excitement! More mysteries of the Dark Multiverse will be revealed in July’s Dark Nights: Death Metal #2! Along with a hallmark Jay Garrick and Wally West reunion, Wonder Woman and Swamp Thing will roar across the horrifying Dark Multiverse landscape alongside Batman, Jonah Hex and Harley Quinn! Can the remaining survivors of Perpetua’s grand design stand each other long enough to form a plan and take back the planet? Plus, what’s Lobo doing in space, who is the Robin King, and when will the Darkest Knight appear?
Don’t miss the second chapter of the wildest ride in the DC universe, hitting shelves on July 14 from the epic team of Scott Snyder, Greg Capullo, Jonathan Glapion and FCO Plascencia!
